The Herman Family Automotive Scrapbook

Pictured above is my grandparent’s 1954 Chrysler Windsor.

Above left, my mom models the 1959 Ford Consul. Four cylinder, “three on the tree” driving excitement from Ford of U.K. It rusted itself into oblivion in the late ’60’s. On the right, my father puts up the top (no power top, unlike my modern ’69 Dart).

The car shown above was my mom’s 1969 Dodge Dart GT hardtop. It had a 225 C.I.D. “Slant Six”, automatic transmission on the column, power steering and manual drum brakes. It was F8 green with a black vinyl top and bucket seat interior. Options included and A.M. radio and factory air conditioning. It was “murdered” in 1981 when some knucklehead hit the car while my mother was driving it. Photos of what happens when a ’69 Dart is broadsided by a ’77 Oldsmobile are above. The Dart was replaced by a 1980 Toyota Corolla (a good car, but nothing like the old Dart). Mom’s Dart was the main inspiration for my purchase of a 1969 Dodge Dart GT convertible. Pictured in front of the Dart is my Grandparents 1969 Dodge Coronet 440. Stolen in 1977, it was replaced by a 1977 Buick Century, which was later replaced by a 1987 Buick Century (photo below). The ’87 Century, driven by me since ’94 was sold and replaced by a 1999 Toyota Camry Solara. Photos and details below…

The 1980 Toyota Corolla is shown parked in front of my parents 1972 Dodge Charger. The car was blue (don’t remember the color code), with a black bucket seat interior and black vinyl top. It had a 318 C.I.D. 2bbl, automatic transmission on the column, factory air conditioning and an AM radio. It died of old age and rust in 1983 to be replaced by…

…a 1983 Dodge Aires. Can you say “LEMON” boys and girls? White with a red interior, equipped with the 2.2 liter engine, automatic transmission, air conditioning, and A.M./F.M. stereo, the car never ran properly two days in a row. Major problems included the Holley carburetor, the timing belt and the catalytic converter.

Note: At my mom’s request, I’m asking any one who sees these photos and has an experience with a K-car (or any one of its variations) to email me with your experiences (good or bad). If you’ve got a story to tell, my mom would love to read about it (and we have lots of stories to tell!).

For the first time *ever*, my parents got rid of a car before it approached 100,000 miles. At a mere 57,000 miles it was replaced by…

Pictured above (to the left) is dad’s 1982 Toyota Corolla wagon, sold in 1991 with 103,000 miles on it and replaced by a 1991 Nissan Maxima GXE (above right, background, replaced in 2001 with a 2001 Toyota Camry LE). My current daily driver is in the foreground, a 1993 Toyota Camry XLE V6, now with 96,000+ miles which replaced my first car…

…a 1985 Toyota Celica GT. An incredibly fun little car. Economical, reliable, attractive, and semi-practical. The last year for the rear wheel drive Celica. I’d really like to buy a convertible version of that car!

Above – Mom’s 1998 Honda Accord EX V6. Lots of power, lots of toys. I somehow figured that a dose of “new car smell” would cure my mother of missing her ’88 Camry. I was right.

My new daily driver. Perfect for the train station and other crowded parking lots.
The car is a 1987 Dodge Diplomat SE purchased 2/2002 with a verified 62,000 miles. The “Dippy” is equipped with the legendary 318 cubic inch V8 with two barrel carburetor, “Lean Burn” ignition, and A904 “lock-up” automatic transmission.

The car came with 7″ steel wheels with wire wheel covers and 205/75R15 tires. I changed over to 7″ “cop wheels” with vented hubcaps and 235/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As for better handling and braking and the cool “cop car” look.